自我 — The Self and the Ego
2026-09-03
自我 — The Self and the Ego

自我 — The Self and the Ego
Japanese has an interesting word: 自我 (jiga).
 
自 means “self,” and 我 means “I” or “ego.” Together, 自我 refers to one’s sense of self—the awareness that “I am me.”
 
In English, it is often translated as “ego,” but that can be misleading. Ego frequently has a negative meaning in everyday English. When we say someone “has a big ego,” we usually mean that person thinks too highly of themselves.
 
自我 itself is not necessarily negative.
 
A child develops 自我 as they begin to recognize their own desires, opinions, and identity. Having a strong sense of self can be important. Without it, we may simply follow what everyone else thinks.
 
The problem begins when 自我 becomes too strong.
 
In Japanese culture, where harmony with others is traditionally valued, constantly insisting on “I,” “me,” and “my way” can create friction. But suppressing yourself completely is not healthy either.
 
Perhaps maturity is not about eliminating the ego.
 
It is about knowing when to express yourself and when to make room for others.
 
You need a self to know who you are.
 
But you do not always need to make yourself the center.
 
 
 
 
Disclaimer: I use AI as a tool to help create images and proofread my writing. However, the ideas, opinions, experiences, and messages in my posts are my own. AI does not generate my posts for me. It simply helps me present my own words and ideas more clearly.






Kenichi Uchikura
Founder & CEO

Pacific Software Publishing, Inc. (PSPINC)
Uchikura & Co., LLC.

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ABOUT THIS BLOG

I was born and raised in Japan and have spent most of my adult life in the United States. Through this blog, I share Japanese culture, language, expressions, and wisdom. My goal is not to say one culture is better, but to explore different perspectives and what we can learn from them.

Your comments are always welcome.

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